Unions urged to curb striking construction staff

UNIONS were urged yesterday to restrain their members as wildcat strikes, primarily over black economy employees, led to the lay-off of more than 2,000 building site workers in Limerick.

Chains and locks were placed on construction sites yesterday, as the industry came to a standstill. The protesting workers are also highlighting health and safety concerns on sites.

The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) yesterday expressed fears of an escalation of the unofficial dispute into neighbouring counties.

Unions sources, meanwhile, strongly hinted the dispute could be labelled official due to the lay-offs and workers being locked out of sites.

Congress of Trade Unions and the CIF are involved in frantic behind-the-scene talks to resolve the dispute.

The row, which paralysed the city’s construction industry, stemmed from a picket two weeks ago at a housing

development on Dooradoyle Road. Tradesmen and general operatives attached to unions claimed Kilcrat Homes had employed workers on the black market.

Protesters, planning to take to the streets again on Monday in Limerick, also underlined worker safety concerns and demanded strict enforcement of regulations in the Health and Safety Act.

Site accidents in Limerick last year led to three fatalities. Twenty-one men died in the building industry in 2002.

The CIF’s Kevin Gilna insisted, however, the workers’ alleged grievances have not been communicated to the employers’ body.

“The CIF, working closely with the Health and Safety Authority and the unions, has invested 40m in improving health and safety over the past two years. If there are safety issues to be addressed on construction sites in Limerick, they should be brought to the attention of the CIF or the HSA,” he said.

“These wildcat action are spiralling out of control and creating serious difficulties for employers. More jobs are going to be put at risk,” he warned